Researches Identify Genes Linked to Regulating Cancer

Scientists from the United Kingdom recently published a study outlining a potentially significant breakthrough in the fight against aggressive colon, lung, and breast cancers by identifying the genetic markers regulating cancer growth. In their report, the researchers demonstrated tumor growth may be decreased as much as 75% when scientists targeting one-specific gene and noted that 18 others either aid in tumor growth or can slow down the metastasization.

Furthermore, researchers identified other genes responsible for regulating the body’s immune system, which could help with a patient’s natural response to fighting mesothelioma and other cancers. By stunting tumor growth and energizing the immune system, immunotherapy researchers believe the human body itself may be the key to effectively fighting cancer and getting patients into remission.

Spns2 Gene Linked to Blocking Cancer Growth in Lab Mice

Using lab mice as subjects, researchers significantly slowed town tumor growth in the subjects’ lungs and colon by attacking one specific gene, spinster homologue 2 (Spns2). By eliminating the particular marker, scientists reduced metastasis by almost four times in the subjects’ lungs, a feat that could revolutionize mesothelioma care.

Other studies suggest that 90% of cancer fatalities are caused by the tumors metastasizing, meaning the cancer grows and spreads to other parts of the body, particularly vital organs like the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer, often affecting the thin lining of tissue surrounding the lungs and abdomen, making the finding in this study especially encouraging.

If caught during its early stages, mesothelioma can be treated with surgery to relieve the tissues of tumors before these growths have a chance to move to vulnerable organs and pose a greater risk. However, there is no cure for mesothelioma and doctors rarely catch the disease in its early stages and therefore must resort to treatments like chemotherapy to slow tumor growth and help patients live more comfortably.

How do People Get Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, a flaky white mineral commonly used as an insulation in many industrial applications. At one time, many companies even manufactured commercial products with the material, putting ordinary folks at risk for this deadly disease.

Even worse, these companies knew for decades about the health risks associated with asbestos but continued used of the mineral for the sake of profits. As a result, thousands of hardworking Americans developed the condition, causing them to incur huge treatment costs and loss of some of the best years of their lives. Fortunately, the law gives mesothelioma cancer victims the right to file lawsuits to recover for these damages.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Cancer Lawyer

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced Arizona mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.

Researches Identify Genes Linked to Regulating Cancer

Do Companies Still Use Asbestos?

Asbestos is a white, flaky mineral used for its heat resistant properties in various industries including construction, pipe fitting, shipbuilding, and as an insulation. While its physical properties and low cost make it ideal for use in many industrial applications, the mineral is extremely toxic and has a causal link to developing mesothelioma.

Asbestos companies and manufacturers using the material knew about the dangers associates with it but continued using it for years. As a result, hundreds of thousands of victims developed mesothelioma, an extremely rare and deadly form of cancer commonly affecting tissue linings around the lungs and abdomen.

Despite all this, asbestos can still be used in certain products today, like vinyl flooring and cement shingles, though it is heavily regulated. That may soon change as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced adding asbestos to a list of 10 toxic chemicals the agency looks to ban in 2017.

Chemical Regulations Overhauled in 2016

Thanks to changes in the nation’s chemical regulations in 2016, the EPA can now nominate up to 10 toxic chemicals per year for review that can be banned should the agency find they pose a great enough threat to the public good. This first year of reviews is expected to take up to three years to complete, after which the EPA may formally recommend completely eliminating asbestos from use in any commercial products.

“Under the new law, we now have the power to require safety reviews of all chemicals in the marketplace,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator of the of Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “We can ensure the public that we will deliver on the promise to better protect public health and the environment.”

The move is an important step toward eliminating any future exposure to asbestos and hopefully reducing cases of mesothelioma. Even today, innocent people face exposure during renovations of office buildings, apartment complexes, and even our schools.

Often times, negligent businesses do not follow state and federal asbestos laws by hiring unlicensed contractors or disposing of the material in an unsafe way. When this happens, victims can hold wrongdoers accountable by filing mesothelioma cancer lawsuits to recover for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Furthermore, surviving family members can file their own claims on behalf of deceased loved ones that once provided the financial and emotional services needed to survive and live with dignity. Due to strict time limits for filing mesothelioma cancer lawsuits, claimants are urged to contact an experienced nationwide mesothelioma lawyer about their situation and begin the claims processes before statutes of limitations run out.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.

 

Do Companies Still Use Asbestos?

Is Mesothelioma Preventable?

After a mesothelioma diagnosis, mesothelioma patients and their family members often have many questions about the contractions and treatment of the cancer. One of the most common questions is whether or not mesothelioma is a preventable disease or if there was something in the family history that caused it to develop.

One of the most important things mesothelioma patients and their families should know is that the disease is extremely rare and most commonly associated with exposure to asbestos, a flaky white mineral commonly used in insulation and other industrial applications. Companies have known for decades about the causal link between asbestos exposure and risk of developing the deadly cancer.

Despite knowing asbestos posed serious health risks to workers, many companies chose to continue using the material due to its heat resistant properties and low cost, just another example of business putting profits before people. Had companies acted in good faith on the knowledge they had for years about the dangers of asbestos, potentially thousands of lives could have been extended.

Who can I Hold Responsible for My Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

If you or a family member developed mesothelioma, the first step is to speak to an experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorney about your case. Due to the nature of the cancer, mesothelioma takes decades to develop from the time of initial exposure and victims may have a hard time remembering that far back.

Fortunately, qualified mesothelioma lawyers have years of experience handling these types of cases and know how to conduct a proper investigation into how and why the victim developed his or her condition. Often times, many different parties can be held responsible for the harm they caused by knowingly using hazardous materials to make their products.

Some of the most common industries in which workers faced asbestos exposure include shipyards, auto parts manufacturing, pipe fitting, welding, and construction. A dedicated attorney can help comb through your employment and medical history to determine which parties may be held responsible for your condition.

What can I Recover in My Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuit?

Like other tort claims, mesothelioma cancer lawsuits can help recover the expense of costly medical treatment necessary to help patients live a comfortable and dignified life. While private insurance helps cover some of these costs, surgery and chemotherapy can become quite expensive, leaving victims in financial dire straits as they try to focus on healing and recovery.

Furthermore, mesothelioma cancer lawsuits can compensate victims for the physical pain and suffering associated with their condition and its treatment. Although no amount of money can undo this harm, the law provides it as relief for victims and their families harmed by the careless actions of others.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Cancer Lawyer

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.

 

Is Mesothelioma Preventable?

Safety Officer Sues School After Termination for Exposing Asbestos Risk

The former Environmental Health and Safety Officer for Paterson, New Jersey schools recently hit her employer with a lawsuit claiming the defendant fired her as a retaliatory act for exposing the district’s illegal removal of asbestos from a school classroom. Since 2008, the plaintiff’s role with the school district had been to ensure the health and safety of around 23,000 students and 5,400 staff members, but she was apparently not allowed to perform her job for the sake of cutting costs.

According to her lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges she faced a hostile work environment after taking issue with the school district’s removal, storage, and disposal of asbestos and mold from several sites. Most notably, the school district allegedly hired contractors without the proper licenses to remove and dispose of the dangerous asbestos.

School Allegedly Failed to Follow State Asbestos Removal Laws

According to New Jersey health laws, only licensed contractors can perform asbestos removal as these companies understand the measure of care necessary to safely perform the job and train their workers to do so. Without such knowledge, general contractors can endanger their employees and innocent victims around the job site by kicking up the flaky white insulation into the environment.

Furthermore, once the asbestos has been safely removed from a site, the material must be properly stored and disposed of at state-licensed facilities. The defendant in this case allegedly kept the asbestos-contaminated material at another school site instead of being sealed properly within sites meant to mitigate any further exposure.

After her employer failed to heed the plaintiff’s advice and allegedly made work more difficult for her, the plaintiff filed a complaint with the district. However, this resulted in the plaintiff’s removal from her position and subsequent transfer to another department. Ultimately, the plaintiff claims she was let go for her adherence to protecting the health and safety of the students and staff in Paterson, New Jersey.

Mesothelioma Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits

While federal laws banned the use of asbestos in construction, industrial, and commercial settings, ordinary people can still develop mesothelioma when careless parties fail to consider the consequences of improperly disposing of old asbestos. When this happens, victims can hold negligent parties accountable by filing mesothelioma asbestos exposure lawsuits to recover for their medical treatment, lost wages, and other damages.

Speaking to an experienced nationwide mesothelioma lawyer can help victims and their families better understand their case and determine their legal options to recover for the damages they have suffered through no fault of their own.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyers

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.

 

Safety Officer Sues School After Termination for Exposing Asbestos Risk

Can I File a Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuit on Behalf of My Deceased Family Member?

 

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer, usually affecting the lungs and abdomen, caused by exposure to asbestos, a flaky white insulation material once common in industrial applications as well as consumer products. One of the worst aspects of the condition is the long passage of time between exposure and the onset of symptoms that victims may recognize as a serious medical condition.

Often times, asbestos exposure victims are not diagnosed until they are older and the disease is at an advanced stage, giving patients fewer treatment options to improve their health and wellbeing. Due to the passage of time and the complex nature of litigating an asbestos mesothelioma cancer lawsuit, many plaintiffs ultimately succumb to their condition before their claim is resolved.

Situations like these leave surviving family members worried about whether they will receive the compensation necessary to make up for the loss of service provided by their deceased loved one. Fortunately, the law does allow surviving family members to continue lawsuits on behalf of their family members and hold wrongdoers accountable for their careless actions.

Depending on the state where plaintiffs file their claims and when the suits are filed, decedents may have different options to either bring their own claims or continue those brought by the original plaintiffs. These are known as wrongful death claims and survival actions and each has its own set of laws.

Elements of Wrongful Death Claims

Wrongful death claims are lawsuits brought by the representative of a deceased individual’s estate, usually the next closest living family member, like a spouse or child. Each state has its own set of laws for determining who gets appointed as the estate’s representative and how.

While each state has its own laws governing the types of damages that can be sought in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by family members, they generally include the loss of services the deceased once provided. These services can include domestic chores, income support (depending if the plaintiff is a spouse and/or minor children), and emotional guidance.

Damages in Survival Actions

Even after death, mesothelioma cancer victims have legal rights that extend to their estates and relatives can file claims on their behalf for harm suffered. This can include lost income and/or conscious pain and suffering, depending on the circumstances of the case.

In mesothelioma cancer lawsuits, the weeks and months of pain and suffering preceding the victim’s passing can add up to substantial damages. Additionally, plaintiffs may ask courts to award punitive damages to deter similar negligence if the defendant’s conduct was especially egregious.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyers

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.

 

Can I File a Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuit on Behalf of My Deceased Family Member?

Nivolumab Shows Promise at Treating Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an aggressive, deadly cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that leaves victims with few treatment options the further the disease progresses from the lungs and abdomen. While doctors can use aggressive treatments like surgery if the disease is caught in its early stages, mesothelioma will eventually metastasize into delicate areas of the body unsuitable for surgical removal.

However, doctors and researchers around the world have committed themselves to finding better treatment options for late-stage cancer patients to help extend patient life expectancy and improve quality of life. Recently, cancer researchers meeting in Amsterdam for the annual World Lung Cancer Conference submitted a report of a promising new immunotherapy drug, nivolumab (also known as Opdivo).

According to a statement released by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, the drug showed tremendous promise in treating patients battling malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a form of the disease affecting a thin lining of tissue around the lungs, one of the most common types of the deadly cancer victims can experience.

Nivolumab works by blocking PD-1, a cell surface protein which can get in the way of cancer-fighting white blood cells trying to attack tumors. Patients in the study had previously been treated with platinum-based chemotherapy, a cancer treatment used in almost 50% of chemotherapy patients.

Cancer Growth Stopped in Half of Patients in Nivolumab Study

The Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam conducted the study on 33 patients over the course of 12 weeks, during which time no patients succumbed to their disease. Nivolumab was able to control cancer growth in approximately 50% of the participants while another 12 patients saw their condition stabilized and 17 other patients experienced progression of the disease.

While eight patients were forced to end their treatment due to some of the toxic side effects of taking the drug, the important outcome of the study is that doctors observed a correlation between reduction in PD-1 cells and patient health. As promising as this study is, this type of treatment is considered to be one of the last resorts to treating the disease and more than likely will only aid in keeping patients more comfortable in the disease’s last stages.

Mesothelioma patients should never give up hope in the fight against the cancer, as advancements are always being made and studies for new treatments frequently arise to test new drugs. A combination of continuous treatment, a strong support network, and a positive attitude can make a huge difference to health and wellbeing of mesothelioma patients as they battle this deadly form of lung cancer.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyers

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.

Nivolumab Shows Promise at Treating Pleural Mesothelioma

How Much is My Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuit Worth?

A mesothelioma cancer diagnosis can be devastating news and seemingly come out of nowhere to turn our world upside down. Because mesothelioma takes decades to manifest itself, victims often receive their diagnosis during retirement, but many become affected during their prime income earning years, as well.

Whatever the case, mesothelioma rears its head at the worst time and seriously affects the economic and health outlook for victims and their families. Lost wages, medical treatment, and the grind of fighting the disease all eventually take their toll on victims, leaving them wondering how they will cope with it all.

Fortunately, the law gives these affected parties legal recourse to hold wrongdoers accountable for their negligent actions and file mesothelioma cancer lawsuits to recover for economic damages and pain and suffering. Depending on the circumstances of the case, surviving family members may also pursue claims for loss of emotional, economic, and domestic support should their loved one pass on before the case is resolved.

Recovering Lost Wages in an Asbestos Lawsuit

If you are working when you get a mesothelioma diagnosis, the disease can seriously affect your ability to earn a living and provide for your family. Under our nation’s tort laws, victims who lose income or cannot work due to someone else’s careless actions can file claims to recover for their losses.

When calculating lost wages, victims will need to produce pay stubs, tax returns, and other income-related documents to prove their lost wages while undergoing treatment or ceasing work altogether. In the later scenario, economists may be needed to calculate the life expectancy had the victim not succumbed to mesothelioma and multiply those years by the victim’s income to get a lump sum.

Paying for Medical Treatment

Even decent quality health insurance cannot fully cover the extensive costs of fighting and aggressive form of cancer like mesothelioma. Medical bills are another form of economic damages victims can recover for under the law.

Plaintiffs can recover not only their past and current medical bills but also receive compensation for the future medical care needed to treat the disease and live a more comfortable life. An experienced attorney will consult with medical experts to help establish the plaintiffs necessary future medical care.

Determining Pain and Suffering in a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Calculating damages for the physical pain and suffering as well as the mental anguish of enduring the disease is extremely subjective and can be a major point of contention during litigation. While some settlements and jury awards are multimillion dollar resolutions, others may be worth less as each case is as unique as the jury hearing it.

Having an experienced attorney on your side can make a world of difference when it comes to maximizing the compensation you and your family may be owed. Contact our office to speak to one of our qualified nationwide mesothelioma cancer attorneys about your case and find out what your claim may be worth.

How Much is My Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuit Worth?